PLANT REMAINS FROM EXCAVATIONS AT THE LANES, CARLISLE, CUMBRIA: PART I - CAL, OGL, OBL, LEL
Author(s): J P Huntley
Samples from the Lanes are mainly representative of Roman layers (late first to late second/ early third centuries) with a few discrete Medieval features. One hundred and forty contexts were analysed for their carbonised and waterlogged plant remains and c.1500 pieces of wood were identified. Multivariate analyses clearly separated the Medieval from the Roman samples but, within the Roman, there was considerable heterogeneity. The sites are away from the main area of Roman military activity and, from their plant remains, seem to have been largely areas of low agricultural use, with some disposal of organic material (hay, spent bedding etc). Evidence points to some standing water and trampled areas. Faecal material was scattered through many samples but rarely in concentrations and exotic taxa, characteristic of the Roman military elsewhere in Carlisle, were rarely found. Measurements of Prunus stones suggests increased variety during the Medieval period. Wood identifications lead to the conclusion that the material primarily reflects disposal of wood working waste; a variety of exotic taxa were identified. Some wood was clearly from in situ features (hedge!), suggesting that boundaries may well have been respected for some considerable time. In terms of overall activity the Lanes seems to have been low level with little evidence for human occupation. Open
- Report Number:
- 51/1992
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 200
- Keywords:
- Plant Remains
